Full-time comic artist

That's Hiroya Oku's *GANTZ*, also known as *Gantz*. It's a story about a group of people who died in an accident, were resurrected by a black sphere, and controlled by it, forced to fight against alien monsters!

Eito Fukada had no interest in reading manga, but last week, he accidentally stumbled upon the Gantz manga at his cousin's house. The busty female protagonist in her rubber uniform left a deep impression on him, and he really wanted to read it again.

He begged his mother for a long time afterward, and now he has finally gotten the chance.

They arrived at the comic book store in high spirits. Mrs. Fukada hadn't seen her son so lively and cheerful in a long time. She covered her mouth and smiled, thinking that she must fulfill his wish today.

The comics section is on the second floor of the bookstore.

Upon reaching the second floor, the sales clerk bowed slightly and said, "Welcome."

"Wow." Nagato Fukada's mouth dropped open; he was stunned.

There were more than a dozen bookshelves filled with all kinds of comic books, a truly magnificent sight.

With so many comics available, Mrs. Fukada and her son searched for a long time in the children's section but couldn't find "Gantz".

Seeing Nagato Fukada's disappointed expression, Mrs. Fukada felt a pang of sympathy. She stopped a staff member and asked, "Excuse me... where are the Gantz manga volumes?"

The staff member looked at Nagato Fukada with an apologetic expression, squatted down and said to Nagato Fukada, "I'm sorry, the story of 'Gantz' is for older brothers and sisters who are in high school or above. Unfortunately, you are not old enough to buy it."

Gantz contains many gory scenes and was published in Weekly Young Jump, so it is not suitable for teenagers.

"Ah, I see..." Fukada Eito was very disappointed.

"Please take a look at some other comics," the staff member said, picking up a copy of Dragon Ball. "This comic is quite interesting."

Fukada Eito looked at the Goku riding the dragon on the cover, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. "I don't want this."

He didn't look scared at all.

He turned to look at his mother, Mrs. Fukada, who shook her head slightly.

Since it's a youth comic that shouldn't be accessed, it could very likely affect my son's physical and mental health.

"Listen to your brother, choose a different manga," Mrs. Fukada said softly, ruffling her son's hair.

"Then let me see..." Fukada Eito could only slowly begin his search.

"One Piece? The girl in the blue and white striped top isn't pretty at all, and the drawing is terrible..."

"Naruto? There aren't any sexy girls in it..."

What he wanted to read were comic books that could arouse his desires.

Nagato Fukada, a sixth-grade elementary school student, is already quite sensible.

He looked around, but none of them satisfied him.

"and many more……"

Until he saw Death Note.

He picked up the second volume of the book.

The main content revolves around the storyline involving Rai and Naomi Minami.

Naomi Minami is on the cover.

"What a nice view……"

Naomi Minami, a character with long, straight black hair and an older sister vibe, has delicate and charming features, exuding a gentle and tender beauty.

Her eyes held a melancholy that made her exceptionally charming.

Especially under the black leather jacket, her ample figure was almost bursting out.

"I want this one!"

Eito Fukada has made a decision!

"It's drawn so well!" Mrs. Fukada nodded in agreement. She didn't understand comics or drawing, but looking at all kinds of comic books, she could tell at a glance that Death Note was the best drawn.

This is an intuitive feeling.

“However,” she said, “isn’t it too few to only have three comic books?”

The other manga volumes number more than a dozen.

In comparison, Death Note seems particularly shabby.

“No,” Nagato Fukada shook his head, “I want this one!”

"Alright then," Mrs. Fukada said with satisfaction.

Less is better, it reduces expenses.

As the children grew older, life became increasingly difficult. My husband's salary didn't increase, but our expenses increased by half.

"Thank you, sir." Mrs. Fukada nodded to the staff member and walked towards the cashier.

"Wait a minute..." the staff member said.

Mrs. Fukada stopped and turned back, asking in confusion, "Is there something you need?"

"That comic..." The staff member hesitated, then stopped.

"Hmm?" Mrs. Fukada tilted her head.

"Never mind, it's alright," the staff member replied with a sigh.

Watching the mother and son leave joyfully with "Death Note" in hand.

What he meant was, "Death Note is even less suitable for children than Gantz!"

……

After get off work, filled with this unspeakable confusion, he posted about it online.

"Compared to Gantz, Death Note has had a deeper impact. The notebook where writing your name in it means you'll die, and Light Yagami's extreme ideas—these are more likely to corrupt children!"

Even the staff began to wonder why Death Note received more lenient treatment.

"Really? The bookstores around here are too!"

Some people immediately agreed and replied.

"Is it based on the manga magazines? One is serialized in seinen manga, and the other is in shonen manga."

"Is it because of the level of gore? Although many people die in Death Note, it doesn't rely on gore and violence to attract attention."

"That's right. The selling point of Death Note is suspense and mystery, which seems more complete than One Piece."

"Haha, that makes sense."

Seeing everyone's comments, the staff gradually began to believe it.

"That's how it is."

The next day at work, he looked at the store manager and suddenly remembered the question from the day before. Feeling uneasy, he couldn't help but ask.

"You mean this?" The shopkeeper chuckled. "That's because Death Note is selling so well. We can't just turn down money, can we? Haha."

"Huh?"

……

This Sunday.

The third volume of Death Note has been on sale for a week.

At the award ceremony, Sasaki received the data.

"40 copies? That's 10 more than the first volume." He nodded in satisfaction.

This shows that Death Note still has untapped potential.

"It's true that mystery manga volumes are more popular, but the sales of Death Note volumes are just too good."

It's in no way inferior to any Jump manga.

He then thought of "Slam Dunk".

When it ended, the average sales per volume of "Slam Dunk" reached an astonishing 440 million copies, an unprecedented achievement!

While the manga was still gaining popularity, Akino Mirai ended it.

If the serialization continues, who knows if the current sales of the "Slam Dunk" manga volumes will reach 480 million copies!

Tori Akino Mirai stifled its potential!

However, even with such a success, the sales of the collected volumes of "Slam Dunk" were only so-so when it reached its eighth month of serialization.

Death Note is on par with Slam Dunk.

It also has a bright future.

such a pity……

This time, even five years won't be enough for Tori Akino.

Even if it's not five years, three years or two years will do.

Only a few months left.

Sasaki shook his head repeatedly, wanting to strangle Higashino Hibiki for not knowing how to cherish things.

"Teacher Akino, you've arrived." Koji Yoshida's voice reached Sasaki's ears.

He narrowed his eyes and walked towards Higashino Hibiki.

……

Today is the day Jump awards prizes to manga artists.

Many of Higashino Hibiki's acquaintances arrived, making it feel a bit like a colleagues' gathering.

"Ah, Araki-sensei, you're still the same as before. No, how come you're getting younger and younger?" Higashino Hibiki, who had been happy, hesitated. He looked Araki up and down, his smile freezing on his face, utterly astonished.

"Could it be... that you are the ultimate life form?!"

“Tori Akino-kun, stop joking.” Araki Hirohiko looked at Higashino Hibiki and said with a smile, “I have more and more wrinkles, I’m not young anymore.”

Hirohiko Araki was in a good mood as he watched the naive kid from back then grow into the reliable person he is today.

This is probably a kind of inheritance.

When I can no longer draw, I will still have this memory to reminisce about.